Nobody likes tests, but they are an important indicator of your progress at any given time.
The Golden Eagles basketball team was tested for the second time in as many games on Friday afternoon and got another passing mark, even though they gave Coach Richard Tharp a few more gray hairs before pulling out their fifth consecutive win with a 66-50 decision over visiting Andrews University.
In a sense, the first half started with a false start by KSU Tuscarawas.
It looked like the game was going to be runaway at the beginning, as the Eagles jumped out to the 6-0 lead on two DeJuan Lawrence baskets. The first bucket was on a spin move to the hoop and the second via a dunk moments later, while Kameron Shockley added a steal and runout hoop as the Eagles looked to make Andrews University raise the white flag early.
The Cardinals however, quickly responded taking a 13-12 lead with 11:23 left in the first half. They were still on top 18-16 as the Eagles turned the ball over on successive possessions making the bulk of their 20 turnovers in the game in the first 20 minutes. Then JaJuantae Young drilled a triple with 6:38 left that sparked a 10-0 run and a KSU Tusc 26-18 lead.
As Andrews tried to charge back, Vincent Roper made a lunging steal and pinned the ball on the floor beneath the Cardinals hoop while sitting on his backside. He muscled control of the ball and fired a pass to a breaking Jordan Stevens for a layup. Another layup by Kyle Shockley, a triple by Braden Rostad and a Roper stick back of an errant shot seemingly had the Eagles in full control.
However, the visitors took advantage of Navy and Gold miscues and scraped their way back to a 30-30 halftime tie---missing the front end of a bonus free throw situation with :1.1 seconds left---while the Eagles offense was silent over the final three minutes of the half. On multiple possessions, while trying to play unselfishly, the Eagles made one pass too many and turned the ball over to the Cardinals while passing up open looks.
Seven minutes into the final frame, the Eagles clawed their way to a 36-32 lead which seemed insurmountable at the time, but it was just a good start. A huge Lawrence 15 foot baseline jumper and a Roper floater in the lane increased the separation to 10 points (47-37) as KSU Tusc finally surged ahead with 9:51 left to play.
Over the final seven minutes, the Eagles defensive intensity level was off the charts. They trapped, chased and forced the Cardinals into bad decisions and turned them over 30 times in the game---19 times by stealing the ball---as the Eagles forced tempo to create opportunities on the offensive end of the floor.
The game never got closer than nine points the rest of the way as the Shockley brothers singlehandedly outdueled the Cardinals 16-9, propelling the Ealges to their biggest lead of the game at 61-45 which also proved to be the final margin.
Kyle Shockley scored 12 points in the final 4:51 on a steal and breakaway dunk, a triple, two lay ins and a free throw. Brother, Kameron, scored four points and raced the length of the court for a dunk after a steal of his own and also jammed in a missed shot at the rim.
KSU Tusc played without the services of starting shooting guard London Cobbs who was out with a hamstring injury. All nine Eagles who played scored and Kyle Shockley poured in a season high and collegiate career best 21 points, Lawrence snared 11 rebounds while Roper led in steals with five and Kameron Shockley added four thefts.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 38% from the floor, but were just 4/24 for 17% from behind the three-point arc. They converted 10/18 free throws for 56%, scored 19 points off of 32 Cardinal turnovers, held a 42-34 rebounding edge and 38-20 scoring margin in the paint.
The Eagles improved their record to 7-2 on the year, their best start since becoming members of the USCAA.
With finals week on the brink, the Golden Eagles will be off until Saturday, December 18th when they host Villa Maria College at 3:00 p.m.
Kyle Shockley tips in two of his game high 21 points against Andrews University.
Photo by Patty Tolloti - Solid Rock Photos